Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

Blame no one. Turn the arrow around on yourself in ALL situations. This is one lesson that I am slowly beginning to not only know, but understand and embrace. In the last year, I have been faced with countless opportunities, as most of us are, where pointing the finger at someone else is the obvious and logical choice. And what I ended up with is more angst, contraction and stress in my body as a result of the blame I created. The person I was pointing at usually does not change, and the only person who ends up feeling horrible is me.

September was National Yoga Month. Did you notice? Was there a parade, a prime time special or an acknowledgement at your local yoga studio? Right now, National Yoga Month is a nice idea, but let's not rest on our laurels - we certainly haven't seen what it can do yet.

Life as a child carries with it so much wonder and magic. Everything is new and exciting, and in an attempt to understand unfathomable concepts our imaginations run wild. For these reasons life as a child is always a discovery and seldom boring. During these years our spirits soar and our creativity remains high. We are able to sing spontaneously and jump into puddles. We play with anyone who is willing, and forget about things like fashion and looks. We build sand castles and dance even when no music is playing. Life is rich.

There are moments in life when, out of nowhere, you are thrown for a loop. You lose your job unexpectedly. You significant other leaves. You lose a family member or friend. Your world can be turned upside down in an instant and you may not know what to do next. Suddenly, the whole world seems to be crumbling at your feet.

My favorite moment in a yoga class is after the final OM. I look around the room and relish in the still space where for a brief moment, no one is in a rush.

It’s back to school time. And all over the US, millions of college students are heading back to the dorm, out to the quad, into the campus center – and for many, onto their yoga mats.

Pranidhana means "surrendering," while Ishvara means "to a higher source." Shiva Rae says, “Ishvara Pranidhana initiates a sacred shift of perspective that helps us to remember, align with, and receive the grace of being alive.” Ishvara Pranidhana takes us away from our constant obsession with the self and ego, and connects us to Source, to the Divine, to that which is in all things, to the TRUE SELF.

“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice just makes practice, which inevitably leads to a habit, good or bad.

I was talking with a girlfriend the other day. Actually it seems like I have been talking to a lot of women lately with a similar unanswered question pestering their mind, “what am I suppose to be doing?” And the question posed is not always directed towards the same thing. Some are inquiring about love, others about work, others about where they should settle down and grow roots. Yet in this particular instance we were talking about the whole picture: love, work, location … all of it. And as we all do from time to time my girlfriend got caught in the inevitable and detrimental cycle of listing all the things she felt she SHOULD be doing.

There is a saying: “It is not who you are that holds you back, it is who you think you are not.”

When you meditate, I want you to be hopeless. It may sound strange, but I simply want you to lose that need to drive forward that we all have. Instead of focusing on expectations and outcomes, I want you to witness what’s going on in your mind at this moment.

I was driving to the airport the other day and my three year old, Madeline, starting howling in the back seat. Cracking up. Her laughter was uncontrollable. I turned around and asked her what was so funny. “Mommy,” she said, “Big Bird is wearing a tutu! Oh my gosh! EVERYONE is wearing a tutu!.” And just like that, she was filled with delight. It was that simple.

With the 4th of July weekend upon us you probably have a round of BBQs to hit, and with it begs the question, "what to bring?" While burgers and beers always sound like a good idea, we know how heavy and lethargic all the traditional BBQ fare can leave us feeling. To keep yourself light and energized in your yoga practice this holiday weekend, try the Quinoa Watercress Salad from the Conscious Cleanse.

When I am speaking to a large group and introduce the idea of meditation, I can see the immediate look of disdain in the audience. They are not just surprised, but visibly uncomfortable and sometimes even borderline angry. But after they spend five minutes in stillness (as I often call it), I see their look of discomfort replaced with relief, relaxation, and even gratitude. They have discovered a new practice that brings them an immediate peace and calm most of them have not known before.

Before there were yoga asanas, before there were yoga mats, before there were even yoga teachers, there was ahimsa, the very first sutra in the original philosophy of yoga, and this is the core of anyone’s yoga practice, whether they realize it or not.

In Western yoga, asana has become a practice of yoga poses for physical fitness. However, in ancient Indian traditions asana was practiced as a primer for meditation. Working your body encourages your mind to be still. Maintaining balance and using brute strength in moving from pose to pose will tire your muscles, making it easier for you to sit peacefully.

I came home from teaching a hot yoga class today and knew I didn’t want to be weighed down with something heavy to eat, but I needed to nourish my body. My favorite way to make a smoothie is to check out my kitchen and see what is available. This was my most random blend, and it turns out I LOVED it.

Starting out with yoga (or even thinking about trying it) can be overwhelming. I know, we've all been there! I remember trying to navigate my very first yoga class, so different than the aerobics class I took earlier that week. I could tell that I was supposed to be relaxing, but was I really breathing right? Was I doing the poses perfectly? Could other people tell it was my first class? I felt like it was glaringly obvious that I was a newbie. I had so much to learn and unlearn.

Sometimes feeling happier is easier than you think. But what is difficult is knowing where to invest your energy so that your happiness blossoms and becomes sustainable. Here are five easy and practical ideas that anyone can implement to take steps towards a more positive state of mind:

Mindfulness, being awake and aware in the present moment, is so powerful because it is the only place we can decide, create, listen, act, and live.

Sometimes, my energy feels zapped. I know it’s in there, but I just can’t seem to find it. Sometimes it occurs as a foggy head. Other times I feel tired. And sometimes I just want to sit and watch a marathon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (love it). But I know that deep down, my energy is waiting, stuck somewhere, looking to be released.

We can all agree love makes the world go round, but we may forget that it all begins with each one of us. Whatever your current relationship status is, if you seek love from another, fall in love with yourself first.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that we are not good enough. Industries make millions from our insecurities. There is no money in people who already think they are beautiful, attractive and clever. Along my journey through personal development, it was highlighted to me that 98% of the world around us is always trying to break us down, make us think that we can’t achieve our dreams, and that we don’t know enough. A mere 2% of the people in the world around us are the unique individuals who can see our incredible potential and give us the boost we need to see that in ourselves. The trick is to learn how to surround ourselves with that 2% and rewire our brains to see the truth - that we TOTALLY ROCK!

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I would put out some reminders/ideas on how to love, nurture, and appreciate our planet more. Please feel free to share your own ideas of ways you celebrate and save our Earth in the comment box below!